PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK: Wide receiver corps takes another hit

Wednesday

The team releases Jordan Matthews, who went down at practice with a hamstring injury on Sunday.

FOXBORO – Next man up?

At this point in training camp, the Patriots’ wide receivers should adopt the slogan “another man down.”

Already beset by injuries at the position, the Patriots released Jordan Matthews on Wednesday, three days after he left Sunday’s training camp practice with a hamstring injury.

Matthews’ release weakens a position where Kenny Britt opened camp on the physically unable to perform list and Malcolm Mitchell has also yet to get on the field.

Britt suffered a hamstring injury during the Patriots’ June mini-camp, while Mitchell continues to be sidelined by the knee woes that kept him on the injured reserve list for all of last year.

Julian Edelman is perfectly healthy and has been impressive in camp, but he must sit out the first four games of the season for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Matthews' release trims the Patriots to 11 in number at that position (counting special teamer Matthew Slater, who is also on the PUP list) and comes after the team brought veteran wide receiver Eric Decker in for a workout.

A second-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2014 draft, Matthews put up big numbers, hauling in 225 passes for 2,673 yards and 19 touchdowns in 46 games over three seasons with Philadelphia prior to being traded to Buffalo in exchange for cornerback Ronald Darby on Aug. 11 of last year. Mired by a series of injuries, the 6-foot-3, 215-pounder was limited to 25 catches for 282 yards and one TD in 10 games last season, finishing that year on IR.

An unrestricted free agent, Matthews signed a one-year contract with the Patriots on April 6.

Matthews’ roster spot was filled with the addition of former Michigan fullback Henry Poggi.

The life of Riley: The offshoot of the Patriots' plight at the wide receiver position is that it creates an opportunity for a 25-year-old like Riley McCarron.

“I don’t really spend too much time on that,” McCarron answered when asked about the state of the Patriots at his position at the present time. “That’s out of my control. I’m just trying to come out here and compete every day and just be a guy that my teammates and everybody can count on to get the job done.”

A member of the Patriots’ practice squad for most of last season, McCarron brings a year’s experience in the system and the ability to return punts as well as catch passes to the table.

“I’m just trying to do whatever they need me to do,” said McCarron. “Whether it’s special teams, offense, whatever it is, I just want to be a guy people can depend on.”

The 5-foot-9, 198-pound McCarron had modest totals over four seasons at the University of Iowa, catching 50 passes for 584 yards and five touchdowns, returning 19 punts for 179 yards and one TD and five kickoffs for 153 yards. His workload as a senior in 2016 – 42 receptions for 517 yards and four touchdowns, a 21.1-yard average on seven punt returns and one kickoff return for 54 yards – was noteworthy, however.

Signed by Houston as a free agent on May 12, 2017, McCarron was released by the Texans on Sept. 2 and signed to their practice squad a day later only to be cut a second time on Sept. 18. Signed to the Patriots’ practice squad four days after that, he remained with the team in that capacity through season’s end.

“It was huge,” McCarron said of the time he spent on the squad. “Just getting acclimated with the offense here and see(ing) how everything was run and seeing how these guys come out here and work every day, it’s been great. There’s a great culture around here and it was fun to come out here with all these guys that work hard every day.”

Now, as he strives to take the next step in his career to an active roster, McCarron treats each practice day as if it were game day.

McCarron may have never played in an NFL game, but with the depleted state of the Patriots wide receiver corps he has seen more repetitions with the first unit than he might normally.

“Whether it’s first team, second team, third team, you know, I’m just trying to go out there and have quality reps, and just compete every day,” said McCarron. “Treat every rep like it’s a game situation and put my best on the line.”

New lineman brings versatility: Experience and versatility were key factors in the Patriots’ decision to bring offensive lineman Brian Schwenke aboard on Tuesday.

“Brian has some experience, has been a multi-position player,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said. “We’ll put him in there and see how it goes.”

A fourth-round pick of the Tennessee Titans in the 2013 NFL Draft, the 6-foot-3, 318-pound Schwenke appeared in 57 regular-season games over five seasons with that team, starting 30 (25 at center, five at left guard).

Schwenke played all 16 of the Titans’ regular-season games last year, starting two at left guard, and appeared in a reserve role in their two playoff games.

The Patriots created a roster spot for Schwenke by waiving tight end Shane Wimann, a rookie free agent, with an injury designation. Wimann cleared waivers and reverts to the Patriots' IR list.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.